Musical instrument



G. B. HUMES MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Feb. 15, 1938.

Filed Nov. 11, 1956 2 Shegts-Sheet- 1 1229722221.- .B/Vaznes, M I

e MWHwFIJH H J IIJJ-HJ I 5 =22 n R. my! 7 5V 4 m #y a v w z Feb. 15, 1 938. G. B. HUMES MUSICAL INSTRUMENT F iled Nov. 11, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 15, 1938 PATENT OFFICE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Guy B. Humes, Chicago, Ill.,, assignor, by mesne assignments, of one-half to Willie Berg, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 11, 1936, Serial No. 110,292

13; Claims.

This invention relates to musical instruments and more especially to mutes, particularly for use' with brassinstruments. such as cornets, trombones, and thelike.

An. object of the invention is to provide a simple,lpra'ctical, and inexpensive device of the character described.

Another object is to provide a mute, the action of which, is. more efiective and pleasing in quality than heretofore.

A'further object is to provide a mute adapted toproduce a tremoloeffect.

Another object is to provide a mute adapted to. produce when desired-notes which are distinctly on: pitch.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein: V

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a mute embodying anemb'odimentof: my invention shown in position in the bell of a horn;

:Fig. '2 isan end. view of the same taken along the line 2 -.-..2-of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 31is an. enlarged sectional view of the mute of Fig-f1;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation taken along the line 4-.4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in sectional elevation on. .an enlarged scale of the subject matter of Fig. 3, showing the operative mechanism in an operated position;

Fig. 6 is a view in sectional elevation of a modified form of mute;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1'! of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View in sectional elevation showing a further modification; and

Fig. 9 is a view in sectional elevation of an addi- .,tional modification.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I show a portion of a musical instrument such as a comet or a trombone having a horn bell l provided with the usual flare l I. An embodiment .of my invention comprising a mute I2 is shown associated therewith and having ai generally conical portion I3 of any suitable material which will retain its shape, such as pressed paper board, Wood, or synthetic composition, which may be provided with a number of friction blocks I4 preferably of cork, by which the cone isretained in position in the bell ID of the instrument. The cone l3.is hollow and is provided with a collar I for the protection of the reduced open inner end Hiof'the cone. The cone at its enlarged or outer end is provided with a wall I! and suitably secured to the conical wall adjacent end wall I! is a mute bell [8 which in turn is. provided with a circular flange l9 provided with a plurality of concave cut-outs. 2!! along its outer edge, the formation of the cut-outs being such that stops 2| are provided, which stops limit the distances the mute may be inserted in the bell Ill and provide with the latter a muted air chamber 22'. The stops 2! may be suitably padded if desired for protection. of the horn-bell. Within the cone I3 is located an intermediate end wall 23 adjacent wall I! which divides the interior of the cone into chambers 24 and 25. An aperture 26 is formed in. wall 23 and receives one end of an open end tube 21, the adjacent end of which is provided with a flange 28 to facilitate the attachment of the tube thereto. An adjustable tube-29 is slidably positioned within the free end of tube 2.7 and is provided with a small hole 30. near its. outer end for the attachment of a hook or other instrument to facilitate varying the position of tube 29, the eifect of which variation is tovary the pitch of the sound emanating from. the horn and mute. The interior portions of the cone l3. are provided with a lining l3a which is preferably of a cementitious or plastic composition such as plaster of Paris which when it has hardened or set provides a firm and substantially solid wall, the effect of which substantially reduces the free resonance of the cone l3 and greatly improvesthe muting eifect of the device. The interior portion of, the mute bell I8 is similarly provided with a cementitlous or plastic layer [8a and likewise the interior of wall 23 is provided with a similar lining 23a.

As may be seen clearly from Fig. 5, the wall I! is providedwith a port or aperture 3|. in which is suitably secured a cylindrical member 32 having an internal flange 33 and an outer extension flange portion 34. the latter being adapted to secure-a bearing bushing 35 which is provided with a number of ports 38. A valve stem 31 is retained by and reciprocable in bushing 35, and adjacent the inner end thereof has secured to it a flanged collar 38, the inner end of stem 31 having areduced portion 39 to which the valve disk 46 is secured, the latter having an aperture 4i, adapted to fit reduced end 39. Valve disk 4! is provided with an outer edge flange 42 which assists in securing a valve pad 43 which is further secured by flanged collar 38. Valve pad 43 is adapted to. engage flange 33-of cylinder 32 to close'port, 3| in itsnormal'position as, shown in Fig. 2. Stem 31 at its outer end has a reduced portion 44 adapted for the securing of a valve disk 45 which has an aperture 45 for engagement with reduced end portion 44, and disk 45 secures a valve pad 41 which is adapted to close ports 36 when valve mechanism is in and operated in one of its operative positions. An operating button 48 comprising a flanged disk 49 and a finger piece 55 is suitably secured to reduced end 44 of valve stem 3?.

A pair of stud bolts are suitably mounted in wall I! and carry interiorly thereof a'pair of spacing collars 52 on which is mounted a ring spring 53 and secured thereto by nuts 54. The spring 53 has a radial arm 55 at the opposite side thereof from mounting bolts 5| and an aperture 56 adapted for attachment to reduced end 39 of valve stem 3? which may be provided with a flange portion 5'! to effect a secure means of attachment. A holding plunger 58 is provided and comprises the following unit: An aperture 59 in the wall i1 is provided with a stud bearing 55 inwhich a plunger shank BI is adapted to reciprocate and which in turn has a flanged disk 62 secured to its inner end, the disk being adapted to provide a seat for a bearing pad 53 which bears against spring 53 substantially adjacent the point of attachment of arm 55. A pad 64 is located on shank 6| between disk 52 and stud bearing 65 and serves as a seal for the shank 6|. The pad 53 has a spring contact surface 65. An exterior sealing pad 56 is mounted on shank BI and is adjustably secured by a nut 61. The shank ii is adapted to be operated by a button ring 58 secured to the outer end thereof. the ring preferably having a suitable finger piece 69.

In Fig. 6, I show a number of ports in the conical wall H3 in the chamber 24. In Fig. 9 I show a modified form of mute in which the wall I! is continuous and has a layer of plastic or cementitious material Ila on the inner side thereof.

The operation of my invention should be apparent from the foregoing description. The plastic or cementitious inner surface of the Walls is such as to so deaden the same that no harsh or unpleasant sound will emanate from the mute and that increased mute effect will result. The tube 29 being adjustably positioned in tube 21, a considerable tuning effect may be produced to provide the mute with the same pitch as the horn. It will be apparent that the valve 31 can be operated either by the button member 50 or 69. When button 50 is used the same would be actuated rapidly by the finger so that the passage formed by the ports 3| and 36 would be alternately opened and closed by pads 43 and 41, resulting in a very effective tremolo effect. If, however, it is desired to release the sound from the interior of tubes 21 and 29 and chamber 24 through the ports 3| and 35, button 69 can be operated and held down, in which case both ports 3i and 36 would remain open as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

It will therefore be clear that I have provided unique improvements in a mute of the character described and one which embodies all the objects and advantages hereinabove set forth.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a cone adapted to be inserted in the bell of a musical instrument, a chamber in said cone having an opening adapted to register with said bell, and a bell on said cone adapted to form a sound chamber with the bell of said instrument, and means on the inner walls of said chamber adapted to mute sound emanating from said chambers.

2. A device of the character described comprising a cone adapted to be inserted in the bell of a musical instrument, a chamber in said cone having an opening adapted to register with said bell, and a bell on said cone adapted to form the sound chamber with the bell of said instrument, and means adapted to mute sound emanating from said chambers said means including a covering of non-resonating material on the interior walls of said chamber and said mute bell.

3. A device of the character described comprising a cone adapted to be inserted in the bell of a musical instrument, a chamber in said cone having an opening adapted to register with said bell, and a bell on said cone adapted to form the sound chamber with the bell of said instrument, and means adapted to mute sound emanating from said chambers said means including a covering of cementitious material on the interior walls of said chamber and said mute bell.

4. A device of the character described comprising a. cone having a sound chamber therein, and means adapted to mute sound emanating from said chamber said means including an apertured wall of said cone, and a spring mounted valve adapted to close said aperture.

5. A device of the character described comprising a cone having a sound chamber therein, and means adapted to mute sound emanating from said chamber said means including an apertured wall of said cone, and a piston actuated spring mounted valve adapted to close said aperture.

6. A device of the character described comprising a cone having a sound chamber therein, and means adapted to mute sound emanating from said chamber said means including an apertured wall of said cone, and a pair of valves adapted toalternately open and close said aperture, said valves being located on opposite sides of said aperture.

7. A device of the character described comprising a cone having a sound chamber therein, and means adapted to mute sound emanating from said chamber said means including an apertured wall of said cone, and a piston having a pair of valves mounted thereon on opposite sides of said aperture adapted for the closing of said ape-rture by one of said valves when the other of said valves is open.

8. A device of the character described comprising a cone having a sound chamber therein, and means adapted to mute sound emanating from said chamber said means including an apertured wall of said cone, and a piston having a pair of valves mounted thereon on opposite sides of said aperture adapted for the closing of said aperture by one of said valves when the other of said valves is open, and means adapted to retain both of said valves free of said aperture.

9. A device of the character described comprising a cone having a sound chamber therein, and means adapted to mute sound emanating from said chamber said means including an apertured wall of said cone, and a piston having a pair of valves mounted thereon on opposite sides of said aperture adapted for the closing of said aperture by one of said valves when the other of said valves is open, and means adapted to retain both of said valves free of said aperture said means including a plunger resiliently secured to said piston.

10. A device of the character described comprising a hollow con-e, a. Wall adapted to provide a plurality of sound chambers therein, said wall having an aperture therein, an outer wall of said cone having a valved aperture therein whereby to vary the mute effect of said sound chambers.

11. A device of the character described comprising a hollow cone, a Wall adapted to provide a plurality of sound chambers therein, said wall having an aperture therein, an outer wall of said cone having a valved aperture therein "whereby to vary the mute effect of said sound chambers, and

a tube extending from one of said sound chambers a substantial distance into the other of said sound chambers.

12. A device of the character described comprising a hollow cone, a wall adapted to provide a plurality of sound chambers therein, said wall having an aperture therein, an outer wall of said cone having a valved aperture therein whereby to vary the mute efiect of said sound chambers, and an adjustable length tube extending from one of said sound chambers a substantial distance into the other of said sound chambers.

13. A device of the character described comprising a hollow con-e, a wall adapted to provide a plurality of sound chambers therein, said wall having an aperture therein, an outer wall of said cone having a valved aperture therein whereby to vary the mute effect of said sound chambers said outer Wall having a plurality of fixed apertures therein.

, GUY Br HUMES. 

